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96 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2026 H A PPY ' S T EC H TA L K #4 6 BY H A P PY H O L D E N , I - C O N N ECT0 07 Data Management for AI and Automation I am sure you have read about the importance of digitization and automation for the future of printed circuit fabrication. (If not, there are several excellent articles in the December 2025 edition of PCB007 Magazine). There are numerous pres- sures on fabricators today, including higher compo- nent density and pitches, every trace being a trans- mission line, the need for improved yields, and a skilled workforce shortage, with trained employees increasingly harder to find. However, there is a predecessor challenge that remains something on which we must focus and improve to achieve digitalization. It involves the collection and management of our process data to achieve enduring performance bene- fits. This is often referred to as the manufactur- ing data dilemma. Although there are multiple data sources comprising significant data streams within PCB manufacturing, they have typically been diffi- cult to both access and utilize because they are contained in data silos. This data is the prerequi- site for data analysis, from sensing and connect- ing to predicting, and data analysis translated into actionable intelligence is the core of digitalization. Figure 1: Data is a requirement of digitization: a) consisting of multiple sources; b) hidden by many data silos; and c) obscure data formats and streams.